Tubular container comprising tamper-proof lid

ABSTRACT

A tubular container with a tamper-proof device ( 19 ) between the tube ( 1 ) and cap ( 2 ) and an assembly ( 14, 15 ) that creates a sound signal between both, in which the blind projection ( 24 ) on the tube is made in a smaller diametrical and longitudinal dimension and with the incorporation of an insert ( 13 ) that facilitates the manufacture and also the use of the container by the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a tubular container with a tamper-proof cap,based on a container tube and a cap, on which the tube has an externallyscrew threaded hollow neck, onto which an internally screw threadedcylindrical portion of the cap fits.

In the interior of its hollow neck, the tube is provided with a portionof wall provide with holes to allow material to pass through, from thebase of which and extending towards the exterior is a blind projectionthat continues to the open cavity in the central top surface of the cap,giving it access to the exterior so that the product contained in thetube can be applied or taken.

The cap has an outer skirt that closes over the tube, as well as aninner skirt which adjusts tightly against the internal wall of the screwthreaded neck of the tube so as to make it leakproof and prevent theundesired exit of the product between both.

In the same way, the cap and tube are provided with the correspondingmeans to witness that the assembly is tamper-proof, as described inEP-A-0 410 922 belonging to the same applicant.

2. Prior Art

In equal conditions, and as suggested in EP-A-0 520 118, also belongingto the same applicant, the tube and cap have the corresponding means, aflexible projection on the tube and a rigid internal projection on thecap, which make contact when the cap is turned in one direction or theother, so that a characteristic noise is emitted.

In tubular containers of this kind, the blind projection that comes fromthe tube and adjust to the hole in the top surface of the cap is hollowand of a considerable diameter, and its free end is flat or slightlyoutwardly concave so that it can adjust to the usually concave shape ofthe said top surface of the cap.

The excessive diametrical dimension of the protuberance that forms theblind projection makes it necessary to use ingates of the appropriatedimensions in the injection process for this part and, as a result,prolonged cooling times which, in short, make both the procedure and theproduct more expensive.

Moreover, once the cooling period has passed, it is necessary to proceedand cut the free end of the blind projection created, which, in additionto meaning another operation, also includes the possibility of burrsappearing on the said projection.

As the result of all this, when the tube and cap unit is fullyassembled, it is awkward to a certain extent for the user to use theproduct that comes out of the top surface of the cap.

A second disadvantage that also often occurs in practice is the lack ofleak tightness between the surfaces of the inner skirt and the alsointernal surface of the neck of the tube, which, as they are flat, donot totally ensure that the product contained in the tube does not leakthrough this space accidentally.

On the other hand, in the said tubular containers, the sound warningbetween the cap and the tube is subject to certain limitations asregards intensity, due to the fact that the part that flexes is part ofthe tube itself, which on occasions leads to the limited generation of asound signal.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a tubular container thateliminates these disadvantages.

More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide a tubularcontainer that increases performance by reducing the cooling times inthe industrial process used in its manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tubular container fromwhich the product reaches the exterior more easily and is more suitablefor the user to use because it does not have burrs and, at the sametime, favours the outward concavity of the top surface of the cap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tubular container with agreater degree of leak tightness between the neck of the cap and itsinner skirt.

And finally, another object of the invention is to provide a tubularcontainer that obtains an increase in the strength of the sound signalemitted by it when the cap is turned in one direction or the other.

In order to put these objectives into practice, a blind projection isdesigned with a small diametrical dimension, for which ingates ofsmaller sizes are used, thus reducing cooling times in the injectionprocess. The blind projection obtained in this manner does not requirethe adapting operation at its free end, since its length is less thanthat of the corresponding conventional part.

Over this blind projection, an open insert is placed, open at its lowerend and closed at its other end, which has a spherical surface towardsthe exterior. The lower open end is provided with a circular lip, bymeans of which a seating is carried out on the holed wall of theinternal base of the neck of the cap.

Preferably, at least one portion of the blind projection of the cap isprovided with a longitudinal striation, by means of which a suitableseating is provided for the said insert on the said projection.

The insert is generally tapered in shape, although with a very slighttaper, both in its interior and its exterior, and just below its upperspherical end, a trunco-conical chamfered area can be appreciated, onwhich the central cavity in the top surface of the is seated. Thepreviously mentioned spherical end protrudes out to the exterior and hasa better feel for users, who can apply their fingers in order to obtainthe product contained in the tube.

The second objective of the invention is achieved by making at least onecircular projection on the internal wall of the screw threaded neck ofthe cap in such a way that it ensures the continuous exacting contactthat prevents any possibility of leaks in this area.

The third objective of the invention is achieved by altering theposition of the flexible projection from the conventional position onthe tube to its final position on the cap.

At the same time, the contact projection is transferred, from havingbeen situated previously on the cap, to the tube, so that in thisposition the said projection will receive the action of the flexibleprojection now placed on the cap.

Given that the cap is hollow, the flexing of the projection with whichit is now provided becomes louder in the opening and closing positionsof the container, making it consequently more perceptible to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of the invention can be appreciated in greaterdetail by referring to the accompanying sheets of drawings which areenclosed by way of example, in which the following are represented.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section elevation of a conventional container providedwith a tube and cap.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section elevation of a container in accordance withthe invention.

FIG. 3 is another cross-section elevation of the container shown in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section elevation of the insert in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 5 represents a detail of the leaktight connection between the tubeand the cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

According to FIG. 1, we appreciate a container provided with a tube (1)and a cap (2). The tube (1) includes the externally screw-threaded neck(9) onto which the screw threaded portion of the inner skirt (10) isattached, as well as the outer skirt (11), both on the cap (2). A thirdskirt (19) is housed by pressure in the interior of the screw-threadedneck (9), and it is this adjustment that might give rise to unwantedleaks of the product that moves to this position from the tube (1),through the holes (16) in the wall (17) in the interior of the neck.

Over the upper tapered portion of the tube (1) it is possible to see theflexible projection (7) with which the portion (8) of the cap (2) makescontact.

The central part of FIG. 1 shows a blind hollow projection (4) orprotuberance, with an internal cavity of a certain diametricaldimension. The upper end of the projection (4) is cut to adapt to theconcavity of the top surface (3) of the cap. It can be appreciated herehow the concavity of this top surface (3) of the cap is very limited asa result of the flat surface at the end of the central projection, whichreduces the range of several concavities that a specific container mighthave.

In FIG. 1, the tamper-proof stop area of the cap suggested by EP-A-0 410922 and EP-A-0 520 118 has not been shown.

The configuration of the projection according to the invention is shownin FIG. 2. The invention features a solid projection (12) which isprovided with some longitudinal notches in order to engage the hollowinsert (13). The height of the solid projection (12) is less than thatof a conventional one and is complemented to the necessary amount by thesaid hollow insert until reaches the cavity in the cap.

Due to the end of the hollow insert (13) being spherical, the useralways finds an area which is pleasant to touch and also makes itpossible to provide the top surface (5) of the cap (2) with theconcavity desired. In this respect, the difference of these concavitiescan be appreciated between the conventional container in FIG. 1 andthose carried out in accordance with the invention, shown in FIGS. 2 and3.

In the same FIG. 2, we can point out the position of the fixed ledge(14) of the tube (1) and how, from the interior of the cap (2), theflexible tongue (15) is responsible for flexing on the said fixed ledge(14) so as to more effectively make a sound.

In FIG. 2, the internal side of the screw-threaded neck (9) of the capis provided with an annular ledge (23) for leak tightness.

The detail of the tamper-proof area that the cap is provided with, inaccordance with the above technique, is defined in the view of FIG. 3 atposition (19), at which the positioning of the combined auxiliaryelements of the tube and of the cap is carried out.

The configuration of the hollow insert (13) of the invention is shown ingreater detail in FIG. 4. The insert (13) is slightly tapered, with itsopen lower base on which the annular outer ledge (20) can beappreciated, so that it can be seated in the holed wall (17) in theinterior of the tube neck. The solid projection (12) is received in thehollow insert internal cavity (22) and its upper end is shaped as aspherical area (25), which is the part the user can touch. Below thespherical area (25) is the conical portion (21) to be seated in thecorresponding hole (24), made in the thickness of the top surface (5) ofthe cap (2).

In FIG. 5, we can point out the detail of the internal wall of thescrew-threaded neck (9) of the tube (1), on which the annular ledge (23)is located, on which the inner skirt (19) of the cap (2) is supported,in order to totally ensure the leak tightness between both in anyposition that the cap might occupy.

As stated previously, a single annular ledge (23) has been representedhere, although it must be understood that there might be two or evenmore of these ledges, arranged on the internal surface of thescrew-threaded neck (9) at positions that practice advises.

Obviously, the annular ledge or ledges (23), although preferably made onthe screw-threaded neck (9) of the tube (1), can instead be made on theinner skirt (19) of the cap (2), which is recorded here for theappropriate purposes.

1. A tubular container comprising a tube (1) and a cap (2), the cap (2)being provided with a hole (24) in the centre of its outer top surface(5), wherein the tube (1) has an externally screw-threaded neck (9) onwhich an internally screw-threaded inner skirt (10) of the cap (2) isengaged, a horizontal wall (17) within the neck (9), the horizontal wall(17) being provided with holes (16) so that a product can pass throughthe holes (16) from the inside of the tube (1) towards the hole (24) inthe cap (2); wherein the cap (2) also has a second inner skirt (19), asolid projection (12) fixed to and extending upwardly from thehorizontal wall (17) of the tube (1); a hollow insert (13) open at oneend, comprising an annular outer ledge (20) by which the hollow insert(13) is seated on the wall (17), the hollow insert (13) defining aninternal cavity (22) having a diameter larger than the solid projection(12) to receive therewithin the solid projection (12), and the hollowinsert (13) comprising an upper end finishing off in a spherical area(25) that protrudes through the hole (24) in the top surface (5) of thecap (2), wherein the solid projection (12) has a height which does notreach the outer top surface (5) of the cap; at least one annular ledge(23) on the inner side of the screw-threaded neck (9) against which thesecond inner skirt (19) of the cap is engaged and adjusted, and aflexible tongue (15) on the interior of the cap (2), which makes contactand flexes, during the turning of the cap (2), with a fixed ledge (14)made on the tube.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the flexibletongue (15) on the interior of the cap (2) is fixed on the inner skirt(10) projecting inwardly, and the fixed ledge (14) on the tube is at alevel of the flexible tongue (15) and extends outwardly to contact theflexible tongue (15) when the cap (2) is turned.
 3. A tubular containerwith a tamper-proof device, the container comprising a tube (1) and acap (2), wherein the tube (1) comprises a screw-threaded neck (9) insideof which there is a horizontal wall (17) provided with holes (16) sothat a product can pass from the inside of the tube (1), wherein the cap(2) comprises an outer top surface (5) provided with a hole (24) in itscentre through which the product coming from the inside of the tube (1)can pass, a screw-threaded inner skirt (10) and a second inner skirt(19) which respectively engage outwardly and inwardly with thescrew-threaded neck (9) of the tube (1), wherein the tube (1) furthercomprises a solid projection (12) fixed to and extending upwardly fromthe horizontal wall (17), said solid projection (12) not reaching theouter top surface (5) of the cap (2), a hollow insert (13) which fits onthe solid projection (12), said hollow insert (13) being open at one endand comprising an annular outer ledge (20) by which said hollow insert(13) is seated on the wall (17), said hollow insert (13) comprising aninternal cavity (22) to receive the solid projection (12), and an upperend finishing off in a spherical area (25) that protrudes through thehole (24) in the top surface (5) of the cap (2), at least one annularledge (23) made on the inner side of the screw-threaded neck (9) againstwhich the second inner skirt (19) of the cap is engaged and adjusted, aflexible tongue (15) made in the interior of the cap (2), which makescontact and flexes, during the turning of the cap (2), with a fixedledge (14) made on the tube.
 4. The tubular container with atamper-proof device, in accordance with claim 3, wherein the solidprojection (12) is at least partially provided with some longitudinalledges (26).
 5. The tubular container with a tamper-proof device, inaccordance with claim 3, wherein the hollow insert (13) is slightlytapered in shape, both in its interior and exterior, and on the exteriorit has a conical portion (21), below the spherical area (25), whichcorrespondingly fits into the hole (24) in the top surface (3) of thecap (2).
 6. The tubular container with a tamper-proof device, inaccordance with claim 3, wherein the at least one annular ledge (23) isprovided on the side of the second inner skirt (19) of the cap (2) to beengaged against said screw-threaded neck (9).